The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-08-11

..-s"N V'S va VIC pottJ} OWI TAUSt0tuC t0t-
lied him on his tiInidity, and the descend
ant of William Penn and his Philadelphia
Quakers set his teeth and DECLARED that
he was going, even If the journey was,
metaphorically speaking, into the canuon's
! mouth. 's''.
The fair Adelaide herself took her seat
Immediately behind Mr.. SHELTON; the
steersman called out " Ready /" and the
sleigh was cautiously started by strap
ping youth behind.
oh, the excitement Of that ride! The
motion at first slow, but accelerating
every second, till the landscape SEEM ed
flying by at lightning speed! The down
ward plunge over the crest of the mill,
and the flying leap that the sleigh gave
over space of nearly ten feet as it was
hurled forward, like a stone from cata-
pult, from slight elevation in The road
some thousand feet below In the whole
history of coasting was never anything
like 1t, and it is doubtful if there will be
again. The girls were terrified, but for
got to scream; the rapid descent took
away their breath, and they could only
cling to the seats for dear lite; Skeltpn
grew more anxious every moment, and
would probably have given all Farmer
Williams wealth, if he had it, to be back
in Philadelphia with whole skin
Suddenly, with loud snap, the ropes
holding the rudder gave way; the sleig gh
could no longer be managed; sbrieks
arose from the girls, and the young men
held ON like grim death. All except
Skelton; he, with a loud yell of horror,
shouted, "Great Csesarl amt going to
be killed !" and leaped to the ground
The sleigh was going with the rapidity
of cyclone, apd any other man would
have been dashed to pieces, for the hill
was one sheet of ice; but Skclton had
"villain's luck y in his favor; he wore a
stoveplpe hat, and to that circumstance
owed his escape; for he struck on the
crown of his headgear, and completely
ruined it, but saved, what was TO him
Of more consequence, his brans The
steersman escaped with few bruises and
an unmportant scratch on the ,se but
! the sleigh and its occupants swept on,
leaving him far behind; they thought
| him dead.
The vehicle, no longer manageable,
turned aside from the road a solid bridge
of snow and ice, crossed the ditch and
| fence by the roadside; over this it flew,
and was ushcred into broad, sloping
| field extending without break for thous-
and yards
"Great heavens" yelled Oscar Brewer,
1--WE shall go over Dutchman's Cliff"
This was precipitous descent of about
two hundred feet, just the other side Of
| the field; to be carried over this meant
| certain death, and it was not surprising
that the hearts of all grew faint as they
were hurried along at breathless pace
right upon the precipce.
Adelaide's eyes were swimming; every
thing grew black before her-but hold,
what is this appartion ahead? There,
seemingly on the very edge of the cliff,
is the figure of man in United States
uniform. AS they rapidly ncared him
shc recognized with start the features
| Of Jonathan Wooster.
On drove the sleigh, like great wild
beast, exulting in his strength, bearing
his load of helpless human freight hut
Jonathan took his stand directly in it's
path.
His hands held fence rail, piced up
near the spot; he extended this to meet
the oncoming mass; then just as it flew
upou the rail, he lifted it with herculean
strength the vehicle was turned from its
course, almost at the verge of the preci-
pice. 1t was an act of splendid courage.
The sleigh was half overturned; a mo-
ment it was poised on one runner; and
then quickly recovering, began to slide
toward the brink. But half dozen at
once leaped out and strong hands held it
back: until all the passengers were once
more on terra firma Then they released
the numbering hulk; it went over the
edge, and loud crash from below told
its fate. Nobody cared; all crowded
around to overwhelm with thanks the man
who, under Providehce; had saved their
lives. s" ** - -.e ast.et:
ooh! Jonathan Can you ever for
give 2" cried Adelaide, throwing her
her arms about his neck.
" Forgive you! For what p asked the
bewildered soldier.
Mutual explanation followed. Jona-
than was amazed to hear of all that had
transpired at home during his absence.
He had known nothing of Adelaide's con
temptuous rejection OF him, nor of her ap-
preaching marriage with David Skelton;
ence for his regiment had been suddenly
ordered to duty in Western Texas, and
had been for some months isolated from
civilization; he had conducted himself
gallantly and now returned with Lieu
tenants commission to gladden. the heart
of his betrothed, and, on the other hand,
Adelaide learned for the first time the
utter falsity Of Skeletons pretended letter;
burning, with indignation, she returned up
the hill to confront him ). the young men
proposed to swing the degenerate de-
scendant of the Quakcrs from the nearest
tree.
But their intended victim was nowhere
to be found. After his cowardly act in
jumping from the sleigh and leaving the
others to their fate, he had hurried home,
seised his vallse and made a bee line for
the next town. They never heard Of him
again.
rleave the reader to guess the subse
quent career of Jonathan and Adelaide
Wooster. A'i'ri ie trsnaE
.f.. TO NUENCH THIRST.
II A North Side physician states that ice
water. does not quenchs thirst but in
7 IL